I am not going to argue with anyone who says that this was not one of the greatest bands from Congo (Zaïre). Orchestre Micky-Micky wasn't even the best of the Congolese bands residing and recording in Nigeria. Their singing is poor, at times even off key. They lack great instrumentalists, no Franco or Nico imitations, no blaring horn section.Nevertheless this is one of the classics of African music.
According to the information on the sleeve the lp was originally released in 1977 by Namaco Nigeria (also responsible for those wonderful releases of Tchico), but others claim it was recorded in 1976 at the studios of Radio Television Gabonaise in Libreville (and post an alternative/original sleeve). Both may be true.
What makes this record a classic is the enormous energy of the two tracks, the repetition of chords carried on beyond the absurd, the undulating effect of the hi-hats or maracas, the intertwining of the guitar patterns, the 'animation': the lunacy Micky-Micky style.
Listen to the music, and you will know what I mean.
SAF 50089 (new link June 11, 2013)
